Brad Clark Attacks the Goal

Written by: Luke Elbin

Photos by: Destiny Fernandez

FC Denver United played their final match of their first division fall campaign this last Sunday at Broomfield Commons Park. They would face an eager opponent in Sapprisa. It was a rematch of a week one game filled with fireworks. The initial match ended prematurely when Saprissa had players and coach ejected after a controversial call that led to a United’s first goal. Sunday’s game was played to its completion with a clear and undebatable outcome.

FC Denver was looking to continue their improving play from two weeks prior. They came out sharp, moving the ball crisply all over the pitch and finding attacking players wide to push the ball forward. Their aggression paid off as they were able to pin Saprissa down in their half. About ten minutes into the match, a ball was cleared near the top of the penalty box. Luke Elbin approached the ball, settled it, and cracked home a goal past the rangy Saprrisa goal keeper. United had an early 1-0 lead.

Wardell Dupuy Changes Direction

FC Denver did not relent. Their defense continued to win balls near midfield. Their outside midfielders continued to push the ball forward. They would score their second goal when Matt Martinez beat a Sapprisa defender and took the ball to goal. He sent a timely pass to the streaking Marco Delpiccolo on the back post. Marco had made a looping run out of the central midfield that was perfectly timed. He took a touch and calmly slid the ball past the Sapprisa keeper, pushing the lead to 2-0 for FC Denver.

Jose Chavez and Luke Elbin in Transition

The first half featured some beautiful skill and teamwork from United. Jose Chavez and Drew Dennison not only shut their opponents down offensively, but they also distributed the ball with precision all afternoon long. Tim Lowe contributed by winning direct balls centrally all game long as well. It was an impressive effort from the United defensive unit.   United continued to push as the game became more physical. Jake Brodsky, Luke Elbin, Marco Delpiccolo and Adam Hermsen tracked down the oppositions midfielders with aggression and pace in the second half, making life very difficult for the Saprissa midfield. They would, however, have a chance to draw close in the match. A Sapprisa player crushed a direct kick heading toward the upper corner of the United goal. United’s goalie, Ian Campbell made a spectacular save, extending and tipping the ball over the post. It was one of his several very fine saves of the match.

Ian Campbell Getting up for the Ball

A third goal was scored when Brad Clark made a streaking run to the front post and slotted home a finish on the near side of the goal. United would also hit a post, when Wardell Dupuy struck a powerful shot near the end of the match. The match would end 3-0 United.

All in all, the game showcased the talent and teamwork of an up and coming first division side in United. After a rough patch in the middle of the CASL season, the team rebounded well in their final two matches, showing heart, skill, and teamwork. Look for this team to move up the ranks in the upcoming CASL Spring 2011 season.

Matt Martinez Lays Out for the Ball

Captain’s MOTM: This weeks Man of the Match Award is a shared award: by Matt Martinez and Jose Chavez. Captain Luke Elbin stated, “Matt (Martinez) was a friggin beast on Sunday; working his a** off (both) on and off the ball, taking guys on, and making some incredible runs. Jose (Chavez) had a very, very well played game as well. Both guys set a “dont f*ck with us” tone that was contagious all over the pitch.” Congrats guys!

Daniel Valenzuela, Tom Mighelbrink, Jose Chavez, and Jake Brodsky jostle for the ball

Written By: Eric Fulton

Photos by: Destiny Fernandez (desti_fish13 at yahoo dot com)

Expectations are everything. Going into the first ever FC Denver Premier vs FC Denver United interclub Derby match this past Sunday, the teams were coming into the match with much different outlooks and expectations. The previous weekend saw the Premier team thoroughly dispatch a solid Aguilas side with skill and panache; whereas the United team got beaten handily by sharp Chivas Guadalajara team in a mostly one-sided affair. Premier needed the result to finish in the top two and earn a first round bye in the playoffs, and United needed the result to try to avoid the relegation playoffs. A typical top vs bottom of the table matchup, but in a league with the parity of the CASL 1^st division, anything is possible.

These teams know eachother well since they practice and scrimmage eachother on a weekly basis, so the mood was noticeably jovial before the games. The teams got gear on together in a large group and then separated for individual team warm-ups. A neat moment before the start of the match was when the refs called captains where Premier coach Kyle Firebaugh met his good friend Luke Elbin, United team captain at the center circle.  Premier’s skill and pace of play was evident early as they attacked the center of the United Defense. The speed and direct play of Premier forwards Grant Lundberg, Tyler Imbrogno, and Chuy Flores-Guerra was proving very difficult for Brandon Best and Jake Brodsky to handle. United was defending their goal for the first 20 minutes as United goalkeeper Dade Smith made several huge saves to keep the game scoreless. Premier found the scoreboard first when a Premier midfielder stole the ball and initiated a quick counter to Grant Lundberg and he raced in and slotted the ball away.

Grant Lundberg fights Brandon Best for the ball

United knew it would be difficult to score and conceding the first goal, especially 20-25 minutes in the first half was a tough. Premier deserved it with their relentless attack to start the match. After the goal, the game evened up a bit, but Premier continued to maintain most of the possession and chances on goal. About ten minutes after goal number one, Chuy Flores-Guerra knocked in a ball that was bouncing around the box to put Premier up 2-0. The game was 30 minutes in, and it seemed unlikely at this point that United would be able to mount a comeback with the limited opportunities created in the match. After United lop-sided loss the previous week, it was going to be important for United to keep working to keep the game within reach. But with the skill of the Premier team, it was looking like too tall of a order for United to fulfill. It took a moment of individual skill from United team Right Midfielder Greg Packer to cut in from the right side of the field and blast a 25 yard left-footed shot from outside of the corner of the penalty box past Patrick Deenihan to get United on the board. The strong individual effort gave the United team confidence that the game was still in the balance.

Premier didn’t wait long to pull back to a 2 goal lead, where about 3 minutes from halftime, Grant Lundberg made a great individual effort at the top of the box to neatly place the ball around two defenders and past a diving Dade Smith into the back of the net. The goal was a big momentum boost for Premier to head into the half up two goals. Premier was definitely the aggressor in the first half and deserved to be ahead, although United had to feel they played admirably despite being two goals down.

Chuy Flores-Guerra and Langston Anthony joke after the play

The teams came out for the second half stanza with differing personalities. Premier was confident in their performance in the first half, and it looked from their initial play, that they win was already there’s. United came out willing to work hard and be physical and build upon their first half play to see if they could make it a game. United started pressuring higher up the field and Premier did not respond with the quick play that would have enabled them to break down the United pressure. In particular Premier had some difficulty with the ball getting trapped at their fullbacks feet without proper options off the ball to play to. Similarly, United started winning more 50/50 balls in the second half and thereby making the contest more even than it was in the first half.

Wardell Dupuy and Tim Lowe pressure Chuy Flores-Guerra

A little past the halfway point of the second half, Premier got pinned in on their half and United took advantage with Tyson Crist knocking in a goal from short-range. The momentum was now shifting, but all efforts by United were cut off by the great play of Premier sweeper Joel Miller. Joel hounded United forward Langston Anthony all day and cut off several United forays going forward. Premier nearly iced the game with some nice play down down the right hand side of the field with Joe Calabrese and Grant Lundberg connecting for some nice play which resulted in a towering shot from the corner of the 6 yard box that deflected off the corner of the crossbar and out of play.

With time running out United continued to push the pressure and Premier was not matching in enthusiasm and commitment and therefore were pinned in their half for the last few moments of the game. With time running out, United forward Brad Clark got double-teamed in the corner of the pitch and made an impressive individual effort to beat the defenders down the endline, cut in and play the ball across the 6 yard box to an on-coming Wardell Dupuy who was fouled from behind just before he took the shot and awarded a Penalty. There was a bit of confusion on who was going to take the PK, based in part by the United players knowing how capable Premier keeper Patrick Deenihan was at blocking PK’s. The ever-confident Langston Anthony took it on himself to take the kick. He stepped up and powered the PK over the crossbar and the ref blew the final whistle to end the game with a Premier victory 3-2 over United. What a game!

Jacob DiGennaro pushes the ball upfield

But it comes back to expectations. And you could see that in the group huddles after the game. United lost on a painful last second miss, but the mood was very upbeat based on the United guys knowing that they had played the game to their fullest potential. They left it on the field and were proud of themselves for giving Premier a good fight. Conversely, Premier had just won to confirm their place in the top echelon of the League and earn a bye week for the first round of the playoffs, but the mood in the aftermath of the game was sour. They were upset with themselves for their effort and performance and knew that they were a much better team then they displayed on the field. As Premier team coach Kyle Firebaugh said after the match (paraphrased), “From this, the guys will either step up or let it get to them and not respond.” You wouldn’t necessarily expect that from a coach after just winning an interclub match, but it goes to show the power of expectations and achieving your full ability. In defense of the Premier team, Inter-club, Inter-city, or other intense rivalries/derbies are always more difficult and end of closer in competition than how they appear on paper.

Tyler Imbrogno takes on Jordan Lubeck

I believe that the game comes at a perfect time in the development of both teams. United needed the performance to prove to themselves that they could play with the best of the division and they did that (even if Premier didn’t have a great performance). Premier got a bit of a wake-all call and at a perfect time, right before the playoffs. Myself, and our club believe our Premier team is the best team in the state, and anything less then reaching that expectation, that goal is not acceptable. And to get that reminder, and still get a win, right before the playoffs start is a godsend. And knowing the character and passion of our Premier team, they will respond in kind. A terrific first Premier v United match. Now, on to the playoffs….!

FC DENVER

Man of the Match: Premier – Joel Miller had a killer game in Defense, but Grant Lundberg with his two timely goals get’s this week’s premier MOTM

Man of the Match – United – The entire team worked hard with several players having their best matches of the season. Greg Packer and Brad Clark both made grerat individual efforts. Jose Chavez played admirably in defense (both Central and wide), but this weeks MOTM goes to Jake Brodsky for his tireless work-rate and his unsung work in the middle in this game and all season long.